Jan 19, 2017, 11:05 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Source: United Boarding Process
We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
================================================== ==============================
Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
New changes (effective 18 Sept 2018)
You will see some new boarding lane signs in the gate area that will guide you through the boarding process. There will now be two lanes that are color coded : to begin, Group 1 will board through the blue lane and Group 2 will board through the green lane. The remaining Groups 3-5 will then board through the green lane when called, and Groups 1 and 2 can continue to board through the blue lane .We encourage you to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your group to be called, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to board. Late arriving customers in Groups 1 and 2 are welcome to continue boarding through the blue lane at any time.
Boarding groups
Pre-boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Active members of the military
- United Global Services® members
- Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
- Premier® 1K® members
Group 1
- Premier Platinum members
- Premier Gold members
- Star Alliance™ Gold members
- Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris®, United First® and United Business®
Group 2
- Premier Silver members
- Star Alliance Silver members
- Customers who have purchased Premier Access® or Priority Boarding
- United℠ Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus℠ and Awards Cardmembers
Groups 3 – 5
- Economy Plus®
- United Economy®
- Basic Economy*
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, except for Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Pre Sept 2018 process
Pre-Boarding
- Unaccompanied minors
- Customers with disabilities
- Uniformed members of the U.S. military
- Families traveling with children age two and younger
- United Global Services® members
- Group 1: Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, Business/Polaris Business, and First/Polaris First.
- Group 2: Premier Gold, Star Gold, Premier Silver, Star Silver, MileagePlus Presidential Plus, Club, Explorer and Awards, purchased Premier Access
General boarding (Window Seats, then Middle Seats, then Aisle)
- Group 3 - Window Seats
- Group 4 - Middle & Aisle Seats (Aisle Seats on UA Express)
- Group 5 - Basic Economy
Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
Note: If you’re traveling with a companion and one of you has a higher boarding status, you both may board with the earlier group.
Note: Self Boarding Gates are being tested at the following gates...
- IAH - Gate C25/C26 - See Post 2960, Includes YouTube video from CO777DAL
- IAH - Gate E4 - Old test from pmCO days, See Thread Here
- BOS - Self boarding gates are now back in *LIMITED* use at least at gates B25 and B26
sUA Boarding Times by Aircraft (AFA)
Previous thread: United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [Revised, May 2013]
United's Current Boarding Process (with Wiki) [2016-forward]{Archive}
Jan 24, 2019, 8:13 pm
#2401
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
They did that for me too when I flew LAS-DEN on 12/26/18. Maybe it's a LAS thing? They also did it for GS. They did not identify us as GS or 1K, they just called us by name. I only knew who was GS and who was 1K because I am familiar with the new boarding order.
Jan 25, 2019, 3:03 am
#2402
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
I flew to and from Japan with a GS this past weekend. On the way there, we boarded when they called GS (great process at SFO, by the way). On the way back, we arrived at the gate a bit after they called "all groups".
I guess we were more eager to leave SFO than Japan.
I guess we were more eager to leave SFO than Japan.
Jan 25, 2019, 10:39 pm
#2403
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
UA300 SFO-HNL on the 772G today at Gate 82 . . . pre-boarding chaos. Not the GAs fault, just too many eligible pax. At least half a dozen military, maybe 5 GS with families, then another half dozen or more families with small children, followed by at least 30 1Ks. All told, somewhere between 50-75 people waiting to pre-board, totally clogged the walkway outside the gate.
Echoing other comments, they need to do something about the large number of 1Ks on widebody flights. Because currently you just get a large mass of 1K gate lice.
Also noticed that most of the 1Ks were in Y. These lie-flat flights have become next to impossible upgrades.
Echoing other comments, they need to do something about the large number of 1Ks on widebody flights. Because currently you just get a large mass of 1K gate lice.
Also noticed that most of the 1Ks were in Y. These lie-flat flights have become next to impossible upgrades.
Jan 25, 2019, 11:42 pm
#2404
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
Jan 26, 2019, 12:17 am
#2405
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Jan 26, 2019, 8:57 am
#2406
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
Jan 26, 2019, 9:36 am
#2407
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
There were also something like 40+ NRSA cleared, and still empty seats in Y. This aircraft has an imbalance of F:Y which really shows on the Hawaii routes, where there is just a ton of competition for the Y pax these days.
Jan 26, 2019, 9:43 am
#2408
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
I'll be a most likely end up being a Y aisle passenger on that plane in March. I'll just have backpack, so will board last to avoid getting pounded by passing bags. I'll get to observe the entire pre-board scrum.
Jan 26, 2019, 9:56 am
#2409
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
David
Jan 26, 2019, 11:15 am
#2410
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
Jan 26, 2019, 12:19 pm
#2411
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Jan 26, 2019, 1:41 pm
#2412
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
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Posts: 20,061
Jan 26, 2019, 8:58 pm
#2413
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,268
I've noticed that they are policing the pre-boarding of 1K's more. Over the past month or so on maybe 5 flights, when they call 1K's to pre-board, they announce "There should only be ## 1K's lining up" and they proceed to count how many board.
On a flight tonight, when he called 1K's he said "You will need to provide your 1K card or give me your last name, I have the list on my screen". I was the first 1K to pre-board, as I approached the podium, he asked for my last name. I told him my last name as I scanned my BP, he actually reached out to stop me from scanning but he was too late.
There is ofcouse still confusion on every flight as to where I should stand or board from. The email says not to line up in the "1" line. I usually take whatever path the disabled/military/GS/families take. Ofcourse some 1K's line up in the "1" line anyways and when I end up going infront of them, they probably think I'm being a jerk. One time where the GA actually told all the pre-board people to get in group 1 which ofcourse made a mess. One time, the GS agent actually called each of the preboard groups (prior to pre-boarding) and lined us all up in the "1" line in order before "pre-boarding" began. I felt like I was flying WN. Maybe thats what they need to start doing.
On a flight tonight, when he called 1K's he said "You will need to provide your 1K card or give me your last name, I have the list on my screen". I was the first 1K to pre-board, as I approached the podium, he asked for my last name. I told him my last name as I scanned my BP, he actually reached out to stop me from scanning but he was too late.
There is ofcouse still confusion on every flight as to where I should stand or board from. The email says not to line up in the "1" line. I usually take whatever path the disabled/military/GS/families take. Ofcourse some 1K's line up in the "1" line anyways and when I end up going infront of them, they probably think I'm being a jerk. One time where the GA actually told all the pre-board people to get in group 1 which ofcourse made a mess. One time, the GS agent actually called each of the preboard groups (prior to pre-boarding) and lined us all up in the "1" line in order before "pre-boarding" began. I felt like I was flying WN. Maybe thats what they need to start doing.
Jan 26, 2019, 9:11 pm
#2414
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,147
I've noticed that they are policing the pre-boarding of 1K's more. Over the past month or so on maybe 5 flights, when they call 1K's to pre-board, they announce "There should only be ## 1K's lining up" and they proceed to count how many board.
On a flight tonight, when he called 1K's he said "You will need to provide your 1K card or give me your last name, I have the list on my screen". I was the first 1K to pre-board, as I approached the podium, he asked for my last name. I told him my last name as I scanned my BP, he actually reached out to stop me from scanning but he was too late.
On a flight tonight, when he called 1K's he said "You will need to provide your 1K card or give me your last name, I have the list on my screen". I was the first 1K to pre-board, as I approached the podium, he asked for my last name. I told him my last name as I scanned my BP, he actually reached out to stop me from scanning but he was too late.
Jan 26, 2019, 9:13 pm
#2415
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,268